My Recent Festivities at Skylands
A few days ago, I blogged about a wonderful William Wegman exhibition that I attended at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, while visiting Skylands, my home in Maine. Now I’d like to share with you some of what my friends and I did during the rest of the glorious weekend. Once again, my friend, Chef Pierre Schaedelin, traveled with me and worked his magic in the kitchen, using the freshest ingredients from the garden and the sea. The days were filled with great activities and there was plenty of great food shared with great friends.
1 The west terrace at Skylands is a perfect place to have a lunch in the shade, but still with a magnificent view of Seal Harbor. Here I am with Laurence Rockefeller and Sharkey underfoot, who is rather much a beggar dog.
2 My early guests also included Kathy Sloane and Wendy Gordon Rockefeller.
3 Francesca loves to sit on a chair near me at lunch and dinner - a charming habit. You've already seen where Sharkey prefers to sit. My Chow Chow, G.K. is becoming an extremely friendly dog and a bit of a beggar, as well.
4 The house tea is a brew of herbal and black tea with generous amounts of lemon.
5 I served an inviting lunch of fresh picked peekytoe crab salad on a bed of fresh garden lettuce with a lemony vinaigrette made with my own lemons.
6 On Friday, lunch was also served on the west terrace. The table and chairs were made by a local boat builder following my interpretation of a wonderful art art nouveau English design.
7 Lunch that day was also extremely delicious and somewhat in the style of the South of France - Tomatoes Provencal, steamed broccoli, sauteed peppers, and red rice from Camargue, in southern France, a gift from Calia Van Dyk, our TV manager who just returned from there.
8 The Soderholtz pots on the walls have grown very nicely this year. This is a cycad, or sego palm underplanted with baby tears.
9 Last year, I planted several fancy leaf begonias from Surry Gardens in Surry, Maine and they, too, have wintered over well. http://surrygardens.com/
10 The main course for Friday's lunch was mussels meuniere. The muscles were local from Great Gott Island and we enjoyed their plump, yellow flesh and buttery consistency. Chef Pierre Schaedelin cooked them in butter with wine, herbs, and zest of lemon. Utterly delicious and rich!
11 Dessert was buttermilk sorbet atop a pile of golden, red, and black raspberries from my garden in Bedford.
12 Peter Jones is the property manager at Skylands and the new captain of my Hinckley Picnic Boat. This was our first day out and we were testing it to see if it was safe and in fine working order. A gas gauge showed that we were full, however, we ran out of gas in the middle of Sommes Sound! A malfunction!
13 Here we are approaching the US Coast Guard Station in Southwest Harbor.
14 Right next door is Thurston's Lobster Pound, an old-time establishment where we often stop to eat lobster rolls or to pick up lobster or crab for dinner. http://thurstonslobster.com/
15 It was a beautiful day and sailboats were out in force. There were many races of different classes of boats going on all over the bay.
16 On Saturday, we went for lunch on Islesford Dock on Little Cranberry Island. Peter Jones's mother, Sue Hill, owns a little shop called Winter's Work, showcasing the works of Island and Maine artists and authors. Peter's sons - Zachery and Lucas, mother - Sue, and wife - Marla http://www.winterswork.com
17 The Picnic Boat has a hatch over the cabin and that is where Francesca and Sharkey like to enjoy cool breezes.
18 We had a large dinner party on Saturday night and I played Kevin by doing all of the arrangements for the house. Kevin was on a two-week hiatus in Italy at Forte dei Marmi, a sea town in northern Tuscany.
19 The table was set simply, but elegantly, using Mrs. Edsel Ford's linens and my Chicago-made monogrammed silver. Bud vases filled with Martagon lilies and maidenhair ferns graced the center of the table.
20 A closeup of a deep rose Martagon
21 And a pale mauve
22 In addition to blooming lilies, the garden offered up late-blooming delphiniums for my arranging. Delphiniums thrive in Maine with cool nights and warm days, reaching heights of seven to eight feet! I placed bud vases on this faux bois plant stand.
23 On a sofa table, I placed two vases filled with electric blue delphiniums.
24 And for a pier table, I filled a giant earthenware jug with more spikes of these magnificent flowers.
25 We served a delicious Sancerre rosé from Alsace and also caipirinhas, the national drink of Brazil, which everyone loved! It's made with lime juice, sugar, and cachaça, a liquor made from sugarcane juice.
26 I like to serve ice for drinks in a big bowl with a silver ladle.
27 Ultimately, the table was set for fifteen guests.
28 I chose Bar Harbor Wedgwood china, which depicts scenes from Mt. Desert Island. These dishes have become extremely rare and terribly expensive.
29 The Skylands terrace, which faces south, is a wonderful place to relax and talk over morning coffee or evening cocktails.
30 My friend and Bedford neighbor, Lisa Schwartz, sat in a Maine-made wing chair and looked refreshed after hiking and boating. Lisa is famous for her Rainbeau Ridge goat cheese. http://www.rainbeauridge.com/cms/
31 John Studzinski, a partner at Blackstone Group, sat in an opposing wing chair and obviously enjoyed the conversation.
32 Here I am with Sydie Lansing chatting about summer plans. Sydie is a designer, an art collector, and a philanthropist.
33 Mitch Rales, a director of Danaher Corporation and a renowned art collector sat with Jean Lipkin who, along with her husband, Ed, are friends and Seal Harbor neighbors.
34 John Studzinski and Emily Rales - They are both art collectors and had lots to talk about.
35 Lisa Schwartz shared her amazing cheeses with us. They were served with toast and were a big hit.
36 Here is Lisa with Ed Lipkin - real estate mogul and shopping center guru.
37 Dr. Michael Kalman, Phil Jacobs, and Dr. Gary Crooks of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center who visits the Lipkins frequently - Dr. Kalman is a famous dermatologist and former partner of Dr. Orentreich, who's been caring for my skin for thirty years.
38 The dining table in candlelight
39 Kitchen prep - Lots of fresh herbs were picked in the garden, washed, and bunched for easy use.
40 Ingredients for Thursday's dinner - Pierre made bucatini with fresh bread crumbs and bottarga, the roe sac of grey mullet that has been salted, dried, pressed, and dipped in beewax for preservation. The pasta was superb!
41 Saturday night's dinner - Fifteen soft-shell shedder lobsters - A glut of lobsters and an unseasonably early shedding season for the crustaceans has caused a problem for lobstermen, though it has been a boon for consumers.
42 Saturday night's dinner - Pierre made fettuccine with sugar snap peas, lobster, and oven-dried tomato strips.
43 It was extraordinary!
44 Saturday dessert - Bitter chocolate souffle, milk chocolate sorbet, and a cup of whipped cream
45 Another look at this fabulous creation
46 On Sunday, we basically ate leftovers, finishing Lisa's goat cheese.
47 But, what amazing leftovers! There was smoked salmon, cold sorrel soup, Maine tomatoes, cauliflower salad, more of the Camargue red rice with sugar snap peas, and cole slaw.
48 We sat down to lunch after hiking up Beehive, a trail that's designated as strenuous with steep grades and many steady climbs, overlooking beautiful Sand Beach.
49 The table was set with plain Skyland linens and ironstone plates.
50 Breakfast one morning - The dining table was set with pink and white china.
51 I had just made this wonderful apricot jam. Pierre made butter cutouts using the best butter I have recently tasted. It's Beurremont 83% butterfat, a gift from Xavier at Paris Gourmet in Carlstadt, New Jersey. http://www.parisgourmet.com
52 Perfectly cooked soft boiled eggs from my chickens were served with toast strips.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Delicious looking food, beautiful flowers, beautiful weather and beautiful friends...what more could a person want?
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | July 20th, 2012 at 12:25 am
Lovely table setting and the use of fronds. I'm going to try recreating your lobster dish. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Andrea | July 20th, 2012 at 1:36 am
What fun to use so many different dish patterns during the festivities. I love dishes almost as much as flowers.
Posted by: susan | July 20th, 2012 at 3:03 am
How lovely to see you looking so relaxed and enjoying the fruits of your labors with friends. It's the stuff of life, isn't it? All the best.
Posted by: Burndett Andres | July 20th, 2012 at 6:12 am
I was so darn glad to hear that you ran out of fuel. Happened to me and remembered Buddy saying "Check the oil, Gas will take care of itself"
Heat has been sweltering here in Dakota and Jamie has had much stress from drought and fires but still gets into 60s in cool evenings. No lobster here but Walleye fresh from Sakakawea Lake make us happy.
Posted by: ann | July 20th, 2012 at 6:44 am
Martha,
What a wonderful time in Maine. Your friends all look so relaxed and happy. The food looks so fresh, so "summertime". You have given me inspiration for the herbs from our own garden here in Mattapoisett.
Your dogs are precious, and I love that you keep them close at hand (or foot) as we do with our pug Stormy.
Your ironstone is lovely. I have just purchased a vintage 1940's china (( aqua rim with floral bouquet in center...see photo on my blog), and I am using it as a springboard inspiration as I makeover my dining room.
Posted by: NantucketDaffodil | July 20th, 2012 at 7:05 am
Oh Martha, looking at your beautiful pictures of Skylands and smelling the fresh morning air here in Ohio... I feel I could almost be there....
Thanks so much for sharing.
Posted by: Vicki Powell | July 20th, 2012 at 7:12 am
That relaxed me just seeing the pictures, wow what a life. Rock on!!
Posted by: Mairead Doria | July 20th, 2012 at 7:24 am
Wow, I love that table and chair set and the glass that tops the table. Of course the whole setting is beautiful. I had guest for breakfast very early this morning before heading to the airport. They are on the way to Aruba and I have the day off. You're a fabulous host and I got my skills from you, thanks for all you do. Your homes and gardens are gorgeous, have a FABULOUS day!!!!
Posted by: Pamela | July 20th, 2012 at 8:29 am
Oh, the delphiniums! Such a beautiful blue.
Glad to see Frannie & Sharkey having such a great time, boat ride & all. Looks like everyone had a great time.
Posted by: Sharon | July 20th, 2012 at 9:33 am
Hi Martha, Thank you so much for taking all of us on a fabulous tour of your beautiful Skylands home again and taking us on your great Hinckley Picnic Boat out on Sommes Sound! Sorry you ran out of gas, but I'll bet you had fun anyway! Is the Hinckley named after your great friend Dan Hinckley! How fun to see all of the lovely table settings for all of the different meals! How fun to have Chef Pierre to make all of those delicious foods for you and your friends! Everything looked delicious! Also loved seeing F,S,&GK in some of these photos! Those sweethearts are so cute and my sweet Dudley Do Right lays down by me wherever I'm eating too and is also a little beggar and grumbles a bit if I ignore him! I love all of these fantastic photos and being there sometime would be terrific! Sure hope you are having another great day and a fabulous weekend! Hope your weather is good, too! We are having a huge thunder storm and it's raining like crazy and thank God I moved most of my vegetables to my patio to protect them, especially the tomatoes and leafy veggies! Off to see The Daily Wag with "Frenchies on the High Seas" Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | July 20th, 2012 at 9:50 am
Yay! Mitch Rales will expand the exhibition space - Glenstone - with the success of winning his bid to construct a longer sewer line! More art for all of us!
Posted by: Suse | July 20th, 2012 at 10:00 am
Hello Martha.
I'm here again enjoying your blog. I always wait anxiously to see it.
I loved when you mentioned the Caipirinha, one of our best drinks. Brazilians love eating Feijoada and drinking Caipirinha.
Thanks so much for sharing with us.
Malú
Posted by: Maria Lúcia | July 20th, 2012 at 10:31 am
Martha,
I just love photo number one! With Sharkey at your feet! Thanks for sharing this blog,
Posted by: KLBrown | July 20th, 2012 at 10:39 am
Hi Martha,
Before I came over to read your blog today I got to thinking about the year you started blogging. It was 5 years ago back in August of ’07, (happy almost 5 year anniversary) although you blogged a little on My Space back then before starting this official blog. I was trying to remember what you said when you told us about this blog, but only one thing still sticks in my head – not verbatim but you did say we wouldn’t be disappointed, that you had a lot of things to blog about. You were definitely on the mark – I’ve never been disappointed and your blog is always entertaining and informative with a variety of topics. Good job!
~
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you give the best dinner parties. I am always so impressed with the time you take to make everything just perfect for your guests from the flower arrangements to the table settings and of course the fantastic food. I can’t leave your dinner party blogs without being hungry and today I would like some lobster! It would be so great to be in Maine right now where the best lobster is but alas, I’ll have to settle for what is available here. Thanks for giving us a peek of your fun weekend at Skylands. Everything looked terrific! Trish
Posted by: Trish | July 20th, 2012 at 11:31 am
Wonderful weekend there of fun and festivities...so beautiful to entertain in exquisite style. Always inspirational and we can implement some of the ideas for our own parties.
Posted by: Sherey | July 20th, 2012 at 11:39 am
Hey Martha, I just love looking at your pics! Good food, friends, a beautiful home and a boat!!! Wow, what a life! Picture #38 is so warm and inviting. I always learn from your pictures. Decorating, food etc. You always give me great ideas! I must throw more luncheons and dinners. I always get so nervous but when I see how relaxed you are it helps!
Posted by: Fran | July 20th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Lovely gatherings! I especially liked the leftovers--clearly, leftovers at Martha's is an entirely different affair than at my place! Thanks so much for sharing. (I hope Kevin posts photos from his trip to Italy--it sounds fabulous!)
Posted by: BG in SF | July 20th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
I've said it before and I will say it again: Skylands is my favourite! What a gorgeous piece of paradise you have there.
Posted by: Andrew | July 20th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Love these photos amazing place, love the table setting and the food looks delicious. Wish you a wonderful weekend
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | July 20th, 2012 at 7:15 pm
Are these placemats from your line? I want them!
Posted by: Ruth | July 20th, 2012 at 8:19 pm
I want a friend named Pierre. That is all.
Posted by: TheNextMartha | July 20th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
It was total delight to peek into your wonderful weekend. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Lily ann | July 20th, 2012 at 8:33 pm
Dear Martha,
I think some of your pages are fantastic and hope you can keep sending them. I might not agree/like a few of your pages but most of them are great.
Please, I would like to see something for the outdoors!!! But something realistic. (Something I can find outside in the bush?)
Can you help with this?
Thanking you in advance.
Carole Richer
Posted by: Carole Richer | July 20th, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Everything at Skylands is beautiful you are so lucky to have the gorgeous things and friends..and we are lucky to get to no you in this way...
Posted by: Gloria Bussey | July 20th, 2012 at 8:59 pm
Food tastes so much better from a properly set table.
Posted by: Maritta | July 20th, 2012 at 9:01 pm
Hello Martha,
We were planning a trip there again in Bar harbor. The question that seems to be in everyone's mind is, "where are we going to stay?" It is so beautiful there but it wouldn't be the same. We stayed at that famous hotel there it was nice but it was not Skylands.
I will also be celebrating my birthday that first week of August. I'm just going to be happy to escape the heat here from the city and enjoy the scenery and lobsters.
Miss the show and the guys.
Best,
T
Posted by: Tim | July 20th, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Thanks Martha, you made my evening looking at your pictures of Skylands!
You looked beautiful as usual!
Posted by: Cindy F | July 20th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
You should do a Maine show! I would especially enjoy making your fettucine, lobster, tomato, and sugar snap pea dish, that your friend invented - with extra virign olive oil..., right?
Posted by: Martha J. Rogus | July 21st, 2012 at 1:18 am
" Gourmet Food " is so inspiring but the ambiance and the friends and family bring it all together ! Nice to see that all of you had a relaxing and wonderful weekend .....
Posted by: Veronika Ulbricht | July 22nd, 2012 at 8:32 am
I just made peach butter but don't have such a exquisite butter to goes with mine
I just can image having a cup of tea and toast & jam on that beautiful terrace. I sometimes feel that I work so hard in the house and garden (because I love it), but I don't have time to relax and enjoy the bounty of my labor. How do you get time to relax?
Posted by: Lora | July 22nd, 2012 at 10:04 am
Beautiful pictures - I especially love the outdoor table design and your indoor table setting in candle light. The flowers and greenery sure add to the ambiance - shows you don't need huge overflowing arrangements to make a stylish setting. Thank you.
Posted by: Nicole | July 22nd, 2012 at 3:32 pm
Your dinners always look inviting. : ) We visited our daughter in NYC (Williamsburg Sat. Farmers' Market) and Mystic CT and had some of that good lobster too! We visited the Cloisters too and I now understand how foresighted it was to preserve the vista and grounds and collection. John Jr was amazing! You are doing the same with your properties!
( I also wanted to share that my husband's gr. fa ( Wm Perry) taught Sun. School with John D. Sr in Cleveland and also was his haberdasher. Perhaps you might want to pass that along.)
Posted by: Kandy Maharas | July 22nd, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Dear Martha..I love your Beautiful Home @ SkyLands. I love Maine As well and have a home there and go every chance i get.As they say Maine Is The Way life Should Be And Is:-).Everything looks Gorgeous! I love your Boat and i have been to Thurstons As well to have lunch and the Lobster is so Big And The best i ever had.Hope to see you on seal Harbor one Day or in Bar Harbor And Maybe Have Salted Carmel Ice Cream @ Mt.Desert..Enjoy your time @ SkyLands.Happy Summer.****
Posted by: Darlene Martinez | July 22nd, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Martha - I love reading about your visits to Mount Desert Island. I have a house in Southwest Harbor. By the way, the lobster pound next to the Coast Guard station is Beals (www.bealslobsterpier.net).Thurstons is in nearby Bass Harbor.
Posted by: Dan Kaplan | July 23rd, 2012 at 7:56 am
Ahhhh, I loved the magical visit to Skylands. Cannot thank you enough! Would love to see more of the woods, inside and out as well as the plants.
Posted by: Melany | July 23rd, 2012 at 6:37 pm
I love how Baccarat Nancy compliments any table.
Posted by: Garrett Person | July 23rd, 2012 at 8:18 pm
I love your garden and every thing about you including you
)))
Posted by: Marvin David | July 25th, 2012 at 1:56 am
The delphiniums!!! The fettucine!!!
Posted by: Karen | July 25th, 2012 at 7:51 am
The food looks so delicious and fresh ! I leave for Bar Harbor in a few weeks and can't wait to have my lobster !
Posted by: Bea Trainer | July 25th, 2012 at 7:59 am